Method of and apparatus for forming cables



Nov. 21, 1933. w. B. WINES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CABLES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CABLES Filed Dec. 6, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Fatented Nov. 21, 1933 ,7 7 v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORFORMING CABLES William B. Wines, Oak Park, 111., assignor to WesternElectric Company, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 6, 1929.Serial No. 412,148

11 Claims. (01. 117-41) This invention relates to a method of and ap-Referring now to the drawings in which like paratus for forming cables,and more particularly reference n a s designate Similar Parts to amethod of and apparatus for forming short throughout the several views,there is disclosed a lengths of cables used in telephone loading coils.p ural y f Conductor reel pp 10 fl y An object of thi invention is toprovide an mounted on a base 11 and conductors 12 leadeificient,expeditious, and accurate method of and g om these Various pp 1 3 pthrough apparatus for forming cables. an aperture in a table 13' whichsupports the In accordance with this object, one embodiment a e p of theCable forming pp of the invention pertaining to apparatus whereby Theconductors 12 are directed through wire guide the novel method ispracticed comprises a, taping members 14 fixed t0 the table, thence overa pul- 65 machine having a rotating taping head or disc ley 15 andthrough a guide block lfi secured to a having a central apertureconcentrically of which Shear seve i knife 7 wh ch is slidavbly ismounted the central opening of a, roll of tape mounted on the table 131'01 controlling the length for rapping du tor d in th ir dva of thecable. As the conductors 12 pass through mentthrough these aperturesinto a combined the guide b c 6 t ey, Of Course, assume ad--70' cable.An axially movable take-up capstan coniacent parallel positions and passunderneath the tinuously advances the conductors along the knife 18 0fthe shear 17, and the op a S ecsame line through the central aperture ofthe tively or sepa at ly draws these s pa at contape, and both thetaping head and capstan are ductors to the right, as described morefully later,

simultaneously driven by a common means which Conducting em through theCentral Opening of is manually controlled and which allows the ina a v sy pp roll f p Such as termittent introduction of additional conductorsus other u a material from whe ce to compose the cable. Means is alsoprovided the conductors are wound on a capstan 20 which for releasingand reciprocating the capstan, as is so constructed to draw theconductors con- 11 as structure for guiding the tape, indicatingtinually throughthe central portion of the tape. 80 apparatus denotingwhen the individual com- In rd r to supp r h r l of p 9 m positeconductors should be introduced, and a t ca ly O the conductors 12 drawnthereshear for severing the completed cable. Y throug there is provideda housing 24 h A clear understanding of one b dim nt of is mounted ontop of the table 13, and to 'a boss th invention ill be had from thefollowing 16- '25 in the housing there is journaled a disc or 85scription of the formation of a spindle cable for p n h ad 26 wh ch isfixedly r as y telephone loading coils, when'taken in conneer v t to aSleeve 27 (Fig. 3) Which projects tion with the accompanying drawingsillustratthrough the bOSS and i a ed t e e by a ing the same, andwherein nut '28, the roll of tape 19 being supported on Fig. 1 is anelevational, general assembly view the sleeve 27 adjacent to the disc 26and between of the cable forming apparatus; washers for providingrotation thereof. A'

- Fig. ,2 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross secknurled nut 29 threadedto the end of the sleeve tional view of the cable take-up capstan, and27 retains the tape roll thereon. Thus, it will also showing the tapinghead operating in 0011- be understood that the sleeve "27 provides forjunction therewith; I guiding the conductors 12 through the central 95Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the capstan opening of the tape roll19, and that the disc and the taping head taken on the cross-sectional26 is free to rotate about the conductors as well line 3--3 of thetapinghead housing in Fig. 1; as the roll of tape being free to rotatewith re- Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational' end view of spect to-thedisc. The disc 26 is driven by a the shear for severing the cable;pulley 30 secured to the back thereof and which 100 Fig. 5 is anenlarged detailed end view of a is connected to a belt 31; swivelrollerfor guiding the tape onto the cable; In order to guide the tape from theroll onto Fig. 6 is a side view of the same roller; the conductors 12 asthey are advanced by the p Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewof a capstan 20 to form' the cable, two guide rollers combined brake andclutch for controlling the 35 and 36 are provided, the guide roller 35being 105 driving of the capstan and taping head, being rigidly securedto the disc 26 but disposed at'an' taken on the line 7-7 of the tapinghead hous-' acute angle with respect thereto in order to guide ing inFig. 3, and the tape properly and the guide roller 36 being Fig. 8 is aview of the formed cable showing secured thereto by a swivel structurenow to be' the relative positions of the conductorends. described, saidroller also having a spring 37" 0 which retains the tape in engagementtherewith. This swivel guide roller 36 is supported on the disc 26 by abracket 38 (Figs. 5 and 6) which is adjustably secured thereto by screwswhich engage arcuate shaped slots 39 in the bracket for allowing aproper circular adjustment thereof. The guide roller 36 is supportedfrom the bracket 38 by means of a yoke as supporting the ends of theroller shaft, which yoke is pivotally secured at 45 to an arm 40 whichis rotatably mounted on a screw 41 threaded to the bracket 38. Thisscrew is capable of being locked by a clamping device 42 forming a partof the bracket 38 and operated by a screw 4C3. Thus, the construction ofthe guide rollers and 36 is believed to be apparent, and it will benoted that as the taping disc 26 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection (Fig. 2) by the belt 31 and after the tape 19 has beenmanually started over the rollers 36 and 37 and initially wrapped aroundor secured to the conductors 12, a continued counter-clock wise rotationof the disc will cause the tape to be wrapped around the advancingconductors in a spiral formation. The swivel roller 36 will at all timesprovide for the proper angle at which the tape is wound upon theconductors while more conductors are introduced to furnish a largercable. It is this swivel or pivotal action of the roller 36 about itsoverhead pivot 45 (Figs. 5 and 6) in the arm which is the significantfeature of its operation; as the diameter of the cable increases due tothe introduction of more conductors 12 into the cable, the roller 36with its yoke l iswings freely about the pivot to allow the wrappingtape to accommodate itself to the increasing cable diameter, therebypro" viding a uniform lap of the tape over itself throughout the lengthof the cable. That is, the roller 36 automatically adjusts the tape tothe increasing diameter of the cable and maintains a uniform lap in thetape. The adjustment of the bracket 38 about the securing slots 39 (Fig.5) and the arm if) (Figs. 5 and 6) around the pivot screw 41 are simplyfor first properly lining up the roller 36 with the roller 35 (Fig. 2),when the bracket 38 and the arm 46 are firmly locked in the adjustedposition. From then on the pivotal action of the roller 35 about thepivot 45 is the sole and only necessary adjustment feature of theroller.

For mounting the take-up capstan 20 and in order that it will alwaysdraw the cable through the central aperture of the taping disc 26, thereis provided a shaft 47 to which the capstan 2O is keyed, which isjournaled within the housing 24.

and is provided at its right end (Fig. 2) with a threaded portion d8engaging a corresponding threaded member e9 secured to the housing, thisthreaded construction at the right end of the shaft operating to movethe capstan 26 to left as it advances the cable, thus continuously drawsthe cable through the central aperture of the tape roll during theentire operation of the machine. The shaft 47 is driven by a releasableclutch or collar 50 (Fig. 2) which is slidably or movably keyed orsplined to the shaft and which is provided with teeth at its right endfor engaging corresponding teeth on a sleeve 51 which is keyed to adriving worm gear 52, said gear being freely journaled upon a smoothportion of the shaft i'l'and incapable of transmitting motion thereto byitself. The releasing clutch 50 has a yoke 53 (Fig. 2) engagingtherewith which is connected to a lever 54 (Fig. 3) which is normallyretained by a' spring 55 to cause the clutch 50 ordinarily to engage orbe driven by the worm gear 52, thus driving the shaft i'l. However, avertical spindle 56 journaled within a boss 57 of the housing 2% andextending down through a bracket 58 secured to the bottom of the table13 has secured at its lower end a knee lever 59 for moving the clutch 50out of engagement with the driving gear 52 after the capstan 20 isfilled with cable to enable the operator to withdraw the formed cablemanually from the capstan and thereby rotate the shaft 4'7 back into itsoriginal position into engagement with the screw member 49. Thus, it isapparent how the capstan 2o constructed so as to be advanced to the leftby means of the threaded shaft 47 and how the clutch 50 is constructedso that it can be released toenable the operator to withdraw the cableand reciprocate the capstan to its starting position.

For driving the taping head 26 and the capstan 20, there is provided acommon driving shaft 64 journaled at its ends within the housing 24 andwhich has keyed to it a worm gear 65 which ongages the worm gear 52 fordriving thecapstan. For driving the taping head 25, there is secured tothe other end of the shaft 64 a doublepulley 66, one pulley of whichengages the disc belt 31 and the other a belt 68 driven by a motor 69supported by the under surface of the table 13, a shield 70 coveringthis belt. In order to actuate the common shaft 6 1 for driving both thetaping head 26 and the capstan 28 the belt 68, which is normally looseand which is driven continuously by the motor 69, is tightened by meansof an idler pulley 71 mounted on alever 72 (Fig. 7) secured to thehousing 24, this lever being actuated by a foot treadle 73 connectedtherewith by. means of a chain 74-. extending over suitable pulleys andthen up to the lever 72. Normally the lever 72 is resiliently retractedby a spring 78 which is secured at 79 to the housing 24 and thisretraction serves to" tighten a brake band 67 against a drum providedtherebeneath and secured to the pulley 66, the band 6? being secured at80 to the housing 24. and at 81 to the lever '72, about the brake drumof the combination drum and double pulley 66 to maint inthe shaft 641driven thereby in a stationary position. Thus, it will be understoodthat the operator may at will drive both the taping head 26 and thecapstan 20 simultaneously by depressing the foot treadle '73 to tightenthe driving belt 63, and when he wishes to stop its operation he removeshis foot from the treadle 73 to allow the spring '78'to retract thepulley '71 and loosen the driving belt 68, also thus tighteningthe brakesan er around the drum 66 to maintain the capstan and taping head in astationary position. V

Slidably keyed to the central portion of the capstan shaft l7 andabutting against a portion of the housing 24 there is provided a bevelgear 82 which meshes with a bevel gear 83 mounted on the lower end of avertical shaft 84 journaled' within the housing 2%, and at the top endof the shaft 47 there are bevel gears 85 and86, the latter-gear beingjournaled to a cover 37forthe housing 24 and driving an inclined dial 8Bindicating to the operator extent or" the rotation of the take-upcapstan during the cable forming process. A deflector 92 is providedunderneath the capstan20 for bending or guiding projecting or tappingends of" the conductors as they are formed into cables and rotated bythe which is continued until tors at the times indicated by providingfor a free 4), which is connected to a lever 94 associated with theblade 18, and handle 95 thereof are interlinked with suitable levers tomaintain an increasing leverage upon the blade 18 as the handle 95 isdepressed, so that the conductors at the right-hand side of the guideblock 16 (Fig.4) will be as easily and as readily cut as those the guideblock. From the foregoing description the construction of the cableforming apparatus is believed to be apparent.

In the operation of the cable forming device, the operator draws one or"the conductors 12 from its projecting position at the right-hand of theguide block 16, conducts itthrough the central sleeve 27 of the tapingdisc 26 and then through the central aperture roll'of the tape 19,securing the end thereof to a hook 96 provided at the lefthand end (Fig.8) of the capstan 2G. The foot treadle 78 is then depressed to drive theshaft the capstan to- 64 as before described and rotate take up or Windthe first conductor 12 in the capstan groove until the dial 88 indicatesto the operator that it is time to introduce the second conductor, whenhe releases the foot treadle 73 and draws the second conductor 12through the central sleeve 27 and manually Wraps the end of the tape 19around the two conductors, leaving a tap or projecting end 97 for latermaking connection with one of the smaller coils comprising the largerloading coil when the cable is installed therein. The foot treadle 73 isnext depressed to rotate the tape 19 about the two conductors 12 to bindthem; into a composite cable,

that a third conductor should be introduced, and the third conductor isinserted through the tube 27 and underneath the tape 19, leaving atapping end similar to the end 97 of the second conductor projectingfrom the cable, when the operator again steps on the treadle 73 andcauses the tapinghead 26 to wind tape about all three conductors.From'now on the operation is similar, consisting simply in introducingother conducby the dial 88, and after a sufiicient number of theconductors have been introduced and wrapped the tape 19 is manuallysevered and glued to the cable. The operator then depresses the lever 95of'the shear 17 to sever or cut the length of cable so formed. The kneelever 59 is now rotated to release the clutch 50 from the driving gear52 as aforedescribed, thus allowing the operator to manually withdrawthe formed cable from the capstan 20 retraction of the capstan to itsformer position. The next spindle cable is 1 then formed in the samemanner as the one just described. Thus, it is apparent how the take-upcapstan 20 continually advances the cable being formed in a directioncoaxial of the taping head 26 and the roll of tape 19, and that whilethe capstan is thus advanced the taping head 26 simultaneously depositsa spiral layer or" tape about the conductors to bind them into onecomposite cable having taps for later connections to the coils of theloading coil. The finished cable appears as clearly shown in Fig. 8,consisting of the conductors 12 which are of different lengths and havetaps or free pro ections extending from the cable at various pointstherealong for mal ing connections with the different adjoining coils ofthe loading coil.

It is therefore obvious that the method and apparatus provided by thisinvention serve eniciently and expeditiously the blade 18 and the,

at the left-hand side of g the dial 88 indicates a to form short lengthsof cables for telephone loading coilsand that the invention is equallyapplicable for forming many other types of wrapped cable.

It is, of course, to be understood that although the foregoingdescription pertains toone specific embodiment of the invention, theinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims'What is claimed is: v

1. A method of forming a cable, consisting in successivelyadvancing aplurality of conductors along side of each other in a stepped formation,

winding material about the conductors so advanced to bind them into acable, and severing the conductors to determine the cable length.

I Z. A method of forming successive cables,con-

sisting in successively advancing conductors along side ofeach other atpredetermined intervals, wrapping material about the conductors soadvanced to form the successive cables, and successively severing thegrouped conductorsinto cable lengths. a

3. In an apparatus for forming a cable, means for selectively supplyinga plurality of conductors, means for successively taking up theindividual conductors as they are selectively ad-' vanced alongside ofeach other ina stepped formation, means for supporting a roll ofwrapping material concentrically of the advancing conductors, and swivelmeans attached to the last means for automatically applying the wrappingmaterial through a varying angle to the successively advanced conductorsto bind them into a cable. I

4. In an apparatus for forming a cable, means for supplying a pluralityof conductors, means for successively advancing-the individualconductors along side of each other in a stepped forma-. tion, means forsupporting a roll of wrapping material concentrically of the advancingconductors, and a roller attached to the last means for guiding thewrapping material onto the successively advanced conductors to bind theminto a cable, said roller having a pivotal means for automaticallyvarying the angle at which the wrapping'material is applied to the cableas it increases in diameter.

5. In an apparatus for forming a tapering cable, means for supplyingsuccessive conductors,

means for supporting a wrapping material concentrically of thesuccessive conductors, means for applying the wrapping material to thesuccessive conductors at a varying angle to bind them into a taperingcable, a capstan for advancing the conductors concentrically of thematerial, and means for moving the capstan axially of itself to providea continual advancement of the conductors in the same concentric path.

6. In an apparatus. for forming a tapering cable, means for supplyingsuccessive conductors, variable means concentric of the successiveconductors for binding them into a tapering cable, a capstan for takingup the bound cable, a screw actuating structure for the capstan to moveit axially of itself and preserve said concentric disposition of theconductors, and a release for said actuatingstructure for reciprocatingthe capstan back to its original position and removing the theconductors to bind them into cables, and ineans forsevering theconductors to determine the lengths of the cables.

8. A method of forming a tapering tapping cable, consisting insuccessively advancing insulated conductors in the same longitudinaldirection at spaced intervals, Wrapping the successively advancedconductors to form a cable which is tapering at the advanced end,severing all the conductors at the same point to determinethe length ofthe cable, and leaving the advancedtips and severed ends of theconductors free of Wrapping material for connection purposes.

9. In an apparatus for rorming a cable, means for selectively supplyinga plurality of conductors, a rotatable member for supporting ribbon likematerial for wrapping the conductors, a hollow shaft for supporting saidrotatable rnernber and through which the conductors may be fed, spiralmeans for advancing the conductors intermittently as the ribbon likematerial is supplied thereto, and means carried by said rotatable memberfor guiding the material to the conductors during the actuation of saidrotatable 1nember as the conductors are individually selected andadvanced along side of each other in a stepped formation.

19. In an apparatus for forming a cable, means for advancing conductors,means for supporting a roll of flat wrapping material, meansforimparting movement to said roll to Wrap the material around theconductors while advancing, a member for guiding the material from theroll to the conductors, and means for supporting said guide member forfree movement by the flat Wrapping material to vary the axial positionof said guide member to compensate for lateral va riations in theposition of the material during the Wrapping operation.

11. In an apparatus for forming a tapered cable, means for successivelyadvancing conductors, means for supporting a roll of substantial- 1yflat Wrapping material, means for imparting movement to said roll ofWrapping material to Wrap the material around the conductors Whilesuccessively advanced, and inthe material from the roll to theconductors,

said guide member being freely movable during the Wrapping operation tovary its axial position relative to the advanced conductors as the cableincreases in size by the addition of successive conductors.

WILLIAM B. WINES.

a member for guid-

